Microsoft expects to begin shipping the so-called "feature phone" device in the third quarter of this year and will only be available in select markets such as India, China, and Nigeria.

Nokia/Microsoft

"It is estimated that at least 1 billion people in the world still do not have a mobile phone, while at the same time there is increasing demand for reliable backup phones in both mature and high-growth markets," Jo Harlow, corporate vice president for phones at Microsoft, said in a press release.

Specs

The Nokia 130 has a 1.8 inch screen, USB charging with the ability to use one or two SIM cards – a function that has proved popular.

The battery can last up to 36 days on standby and has Bluetooth capabilities, but no internet function.

Low-end smartphone shipments are expected to hit 1.1 billion in 2018, growing at an annual rate of 19.1 percent, according to IHS, and Microsoft's latest "feature phone" offering is likely to be successful in the absence of cheap smartphone competition, analysts said.

"What it is really doing is bringing music playback and video to a price point it has never been before to ensure it stays ahead and to make sure there is no feature gap between this phone and its other low cost offerings," Daniel Gleeson, mobile analyst at IHS, said in a phone interview.

But an early foot in the door using the Nokia brand could help revive its market share and push users to higher-end Microsoft smartphones when they look to upgrade, according to analysts.

"Nokia is a trusted brand in emerging markets," Sam Gee, senior technology and media analyst at Mintel, told CNBC in a phone interview.

"Microsoft is hoping for an install base of a million people reliant on the Nokia brand, just like Nokia was 20 years ago. Those consumers will look to upgrade in a few years' time and then look towards a smartphone which may be a Microsoft device."